Material handling device



L. F. SEXTON, JR

MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Oct. 4, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1956 Oct. 4, 1960 L. F. sExToN, .I R

MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Filed June 25, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. F. SEXTON, JR

MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE ont. 4, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 25, 1956 MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Lleweilyn F. Sexton, Jr., Kalamazoo, Mich., assiguor to Borg-Wamer Corporation, "Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Filed .lune 25, 19156, Ser. No. 593,455

6 Claims. (Cl. 214-77) The present invention relates to improvements in loading, hauling and dumping apparatus of the general type disclosed in the patent to Brooks 2,313,514.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide material handling apparatus of the above general type but which will improve the efficiency and overall operation of a material handling system utilizing apparatus of the above general type.

More particularly, the above-mentioned Brooks patent discloses a material handling unit comprising a truck provided with hoist means for raising or elevating a container from the ground to a supported position on the truck body and thereafter, at the desired location, enabling the dumping of the contents of the container without complete removal of the container from its connection with the hoist means on the truck. A material handling system constructed in accordance with the teachings of said Brooks patent, of course, offers distinct advantages over a system utilizing trucks having integral material containers mounted thereon, for, with the former system a single truck can be utilized for handling a plurality of containers without the expense which would be inherent in a system wherein only a single container is Xedly mounted on a single truck.

The system disclosed herein offers even greater advantages than the improved system shown in said Brooks patent, as the present invention contemplates the provision of a truck and container similar to that disclosed in said Brooks patent, but with the container being of a relatively large size and having dumping means associated therewith for enabling the hoist mechanism on the truck to pick up relatively smaller containers disposed at collection points located over a relatively large area and dump these relatively small containers into the large container and thereafter return the small containers to the desired points where they may be used to collect refuse or other material over an extended period of time.

More particularly, it is a detailed object of the present invention to provide a material handling system in 'accordance with the above, wherein the small containers are formed with suitable trip hook means cooperable with a dumping rod on the large container which is adapted to be carried in a supported position on the truck until it is full of refuse o-r other material deposited v therein from the small containers in which the material is initially collected.

With the foregoing general objects and advantages in mind, numerous other more detailed objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more complete description thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: Y l l Fig. l is a side elevational view of the improved material handling apparatus comprising the subject matter of the present invention and showing the large container mounted on the truck and illustrating the relatively small containers in solid lines in filling position on the ground 954,35 Patented Oct.- 4, l 960 and in dotted lines in dumping position above the large container;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view showing in greater detail certain of the structural Ifeatures disclosed broadly in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken substantially along line 3--3 in Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows and shows the small container in dumping position over the large container;

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 represent fragmentary side elevation views showing the relative positions of the small container at different points in the dumping cycle while the hoist arms are moving in a counter clockwise or elevating direction; and

Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are side elevation views, similar to the views shown in Figs. 4 and 7, and illustrating the different positions of the small container as the hoist arms move in a clockwise direction from their most forward position toward a lower position wherein the small container is again placed on the ground.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used in the different views to identify identical parts, the improved loading, hauling and dumping apparatus comprises a truck, designated generally by reference numeral 20, a relatively large container 2l, a plurality of relatively small containers, designated generally by reference numerals 22, and hoist means 23 for elevating and lowering both the large container 2l and the small container 22.

The truck 26 may be of any desired type and includes the usual cab 24 in which the operator of the truck sits while driving the same,-a plurality of supporting wheels 25 and 2.6, and a supporting frame assembly designated by reference numeral Z7. The truck is provided with one or more jack legs 28 at `the rear end thereof, which may be lowered into the position shown in Figs. l and 2, into engagement with the ground in order to relieve the load strain on the truck chassis during elevation of the buckets from the ground level` into the position shown in Fig. l above the truck chassis. When it is desired to drive the vehicle forwardly, after being loaded, the jack legs 28 are retracted.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the hoist means 2.3 comprises a pair of hoist arms 2.9 and 30 which are rigidly rinterconnected with each other by a pair of rods 31 and 32. The rod 32 also serves as a pivot axis or aXle for thehoist means 23 and this rod 32 is aoco-rdingly suitably mounted at either end in the frame Z7. Hydraulic means comprising cylinders 3-3 and pistons 34 are provided for effecting movement of the hoist means 23 in order to cause ascent and descent thereof. The cylinders 33 are respectively pivotally connected at 35 to the frame 27 and the pistons 34 are respectively pivotally connected to the hoist arms 29 and 30 by suitable pivot means designated by reference numeral 36. It will be seen from Fig. 2 that upon admission of iluid under pressure into the cylinders 33 and at the left side of the pistons 34, the hoist means Z3 will be moved in a clockwise or descending direction about their pivot axle 32. Upon admission of fluid under pressure into the cylinders 33 to the right side of pistons 34, the hoist means Z3 will be moved in a counter clockwise direction in order to-raise them and thereby effect ascent of any container fastened thereto.

Suitable lift means for connecting the containers 2-1 and 22 with the hoist arms are provided and such lift means comprise two sets of chains disposed at either end of the rod 3.1. Theohains for connecting the rod 31 to the large container 21 are designated by referencernumeral '37 and the chains for connecting the rod 31 to the rela-VA tively small containers 22 are designated by reference numeral38. Each of the sets of chains 37 andr38 is suitably secured to the lrod 31 and each chain is provided with an enlarged link at the end thereof adapted to facilitate connection with lugs 39 and 40 respectively 'formed on the ides of the large container 21 and the small containers 2.

The large container 21 is provided with vsutrstant iallv solid side walls 41 and a front wall designated :generally by reference numeral 42 and this container has a slanted rear wall 43. However, the large container 2'1 is open at the rear from point 44 to the top and the entire top' of container 21 is open. The container 21 is provided with a pair of strengthening members45 `rigidly secured to the side walls -41 of the container, 'and extending between the strengthening members 45 at the uppermost point thereof is a dump trod 46. The dump rod 46 is, utilized in effecting dumping ofthe small buckets 22 'into' the large bucket 21.

rPhe small buckets 22 are each formed vwith supporting legs 47 adapted toA rest on the ground and the buckets 22 are also provided with suitable tn'p hook means cooperable with rod 46 for dumping the small containers 22 into the container 21. The trip hook means on each of the small containers 22 comprises a pair' of forwardly and upwardly projecting hooks 48 disposed at the lower forward edge and at either end of the containers 22 and a pair of forwardly and downwardly projecting hooks 49 located at the upper edge and at either end of the containers 22. Othc'r substantially similar hooking arrangements or other projections or stops capable of engaging the dump rod 46 to eifect dumping of 'the buckets 22 may be substituted respectively for the hooks 48 and 49, and the description of projecting hooks `48 and 49 is meant to be illustrative only and not limiting. It will be understood, too, that the precise location of 'the projecting hooks will be determined by the coniguration of the containerv 22 and that the projecting hooks need not be exactly at the respective edges as shown in the figures.

With reference particularly to Figs. 4-11, the operation of the system comprising the subject matter of the present invention will now be described. It will be assumed that a plurality of relatively small buckets -22 are disposed at different locations within a certain area and that it is desired to collect all of the material from each of these small bucketsin order that cach of themrnay be replaced in the proper position for reception of additional quantities of the material to be collected therein.

The truck 20 with the -relatively large container 21 positioned therein in a normal load-carrying position is backed up toward the individual containers 2.2 and the hoist means 23 is lowered to the position shown in full lines in Fig. l whereby the lift chains 38 may be attached to the lugs 40 at either end of the selected bucket 22. When the chains 38 are so connected with the lugs 40, the hoist means 23 is actuated by means of the pistons 34 and cvlinders 33 so as to move the hoist means 23 `counterclockwise to thus elevate the small bucket 22. In order to simolifv the explanation of the dumping of the small buckets 22 into the large container 21, reference numeral 38a has been usedt'o identify one of the lift chains and reference numeral 38h has been used to identify the other lift chain respectively fastened to either end of the bucket 22. The bucket 22 is then lifted until the front edge thereof strikes dump rod 46 disposed at the top of container 21. This stage of the dumping cycle is shown in Fig. 4.

' Further movement of the hoist means 23 in a counterclockwise direction causes the chains 38B to become slack and, inasmuch as the center of gravity of the bucket 22 is disposed below lugs 40, the bucket slides to the position shown in Fig. 5, wherein the top trip hooks 49 rest upon the dump rod 46 and the bucket 22 is balanced in this position momentarily by means of chains 38d. Further movement of the hoist means 23 in a counter-clockwise direction causes movement to theleft of the entire bucket 22 and the front edge of the bucket slidesY 4 from the hoist means 23 at this time with chains 38h remaining slack. This condition is shown in Fig. 6. y

Upon movement of the hoist means 23 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown -in Fig. 7, the center of gravity of the bucket 22 and its contents is now to the left of trip hook means 48 and the bucket slides further olver the rod 46 until the trip hook 48 engages and hooks over the rod 46. Rod 31 and hooks `4 8 then support the bucket '22 and the bucket is in a position where its entire contents are automatically dumped -into the large container 21. `With slight modications of bucket design, however, chains 38b and hooks 48 could support the bucket.

The return movement of the hoist ltnea'ns 23' is illustrated in Figs. 8=ll. Fig. 8 shows the hoist means 23 very slightly to the right of the position thereof shown in Fig. 7 with rod 31 in engagement with the top edges of the bucket 22, however, it will be` Seen that chains 38a are still slack and the weight of the bucket 22 is supported by chains 3812 and hooksV 4S. Further movement of the hoist means 33 in a clockwise direction shifts the center of gravity of the bucket 22 to the right, because of the fact that during this condition the hoist rod 31 engages the top edges of the bucket 22 and pushes it in a clockwise direction around supporting rod. 46. Chains 33a and 38o are slack under these conditions. As soon as the center of gravity of the bucket 22 shifts to the right of rod 46, the bucket tends to fall downwardly and is supported by chains 38a and the rod 46 which is against the front face of the bucket 22. A further slight movement of the hoist means 23 in a clockwise direction allows the bucket 22 to slip further downwardly until hooks 49 strike rod 46. This condition is shown in Fig. l1. Thereafter, a further slight movement of the hoist means 23 in a clockwise direction enables both chains 38a and 38b to support their share of the'weight of the bucket and the chains 38a' and 38b therefore both are effective to sup- I port the bucket until it is again placed on the ground becontainer 21 may be dumped by merely positioning the across rod 46, chains 38a tending to transmit the force 75 trip hook 50 in a position so as to engage a trip rod 51 at the lower rear edge of bucket 21 and, assuming that chains 37 are connected to lugs 39, clockwise movement of the hoist means 23 will effect dumping of the bucket 21 as the bucket will pivot about its dump rod 5 1 which is held in iixed position by means of tripV hook 50. The dump rod `disposed at the lower rear edge of bucket 21 and the trip -hook50 are both fully `disclosed in the aforementioned patent to Brooks and further description thereof is not deemed necessary for a thorough understanding of the system and structures comprising the subject matter' of the present invention.

It has been found that the system disclosed herein is particularly advantageous as the material dumped from the smaller buckets 22 into the larger container 21 is so deposited therein as to relieve of the necessity of any further shifting of the material in the container 21 prior to a complete dumping of the container 21.

It is contemplated that further changes and modifications may be' made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

What lis claimed is:

l. In material loading, hauling, and dumping apparatus, the combination of a truck, a relatively large main bucket completely independent of said truck which may be lifted onto land lowered from said truck, a single hoist means on the truck, lift means carried by said single hoist means and connectible with said main bucket for elevating the latter to a normal load-carrying position resting directly on the truck from a position olf the truck, a transversely extending bar disposed at the rear of said main bucket, a relatively smaller bucket, trip hook means mounted on said relatively smaller bucket and comprising at least one forwardly projecting hook disposed near the lower forward edge of the smaller bucket, and said lift means being connectible with said relatively smaller bucket for elevating the latter, whereby said forwardly projecting trip hooks engages the bar at the rear of said main bucket in order to tilt the smaller bucket and thereby dump the contents thereof into the main bucket while said main bucket is in its normal load-carrying position resting directly on the truck.

2. In a material loading, hauling and dumping apparatus, the combination of a truck, a relatively large main bucket completely independent of said truck which may be lifted onto and lowered from said truck, a single hoist means on the truck, lift means carried by said hoist means and connectible with said main bucket for elevating the latter to a normal load-carrying position Iresting directly on the truck from a position on the truck, a transversely extending bar disposed at the rear of said main bucket, a relatively smaller bucket, trip means mounted on said relatively smaller bucket and comprising first forwardly projecting hook means disposed near the lower forward edge at the bottom of the smaller bucket and second forwardly projecting hook means disposed at the top of the smaller bucket, and said lift means being connectible with said relatively smaller bucket for elevating and lowering the latter, whereby during elevation of the smaller bucket said rst hook means engages said bar on the main bucket to tilt the smaller bucket as it is moved to a forward position and thereby dump the contents thereof into the main bucket while said main bucket is in its normally supported position resting directly on the truck and during lowering of the smaller bucket said second hook means functions automatically in cooperation with said bar on the main bucket to return the smaller bucket to an upright position.

3. In a material loading, hauling and dumping apparatus, the combination of a truck, a relatively large main bucket, hoist means on the truck, lift means carried by said hoist means and connectible with said main bucket for elevating the latter to a supported position resting directly on the truck, a transversely extending bar disposed at the rear of said main bucket, a relatively smaller bucket, trip means mounted on said relatively smaller bucket and comprising a rst forwardly projecting hook means disposed at the bottom of the smaller bucket and second forwardly projecting hook means disposed at the top of the smaller bucket, said lift means being connectible with said relatively smaller bucket for elevating and lowering the latter, whereby during elevation of the smaller bucket, said first hook means functions automatically in cooperation with said bar on the main bucket to tilt the smaller bucket and thereby dump the contents thereof into the main bucket and during lowering of the smaller bucket, said second hook means functions automatically in cooperation with said bar on the main bucket to return the smaller bucket to an upright position, prior to lowering the smaller bucket to a position of rest on the ground behind the truck, and a trip hook at the rear of the truck for automatically causing tilting of the main bucket as the hoist means operates to lower the main bucket from its forward position on the truck at a location where the contents of the main bucket are to be dumped.

4. A system for loading, hauling and dumping material comprising, in combination, a truck having a relatively large material handling container disposed in a normal load-carrying position on the truck, a plurality of relatively small buckets adapted to be disposed at diiferent locations over an area for collecting material hrein, a

single hoist means on the truck, said hoist means having lift means associated therewith and selectively connectible with said buckets for elevating and lowering them, said large container having a dump bar at the upper rear end thereof, and each of said buckets respectively having trip hook means thereon engageable with the dump bar on said large container upon the selective connection between the hoist means and the buckets for automatically effecting dumping of lthe contents of the buckets into said container upon the selective elevation of said buckets by the hoist means while said container is in its normal load-carrying position resting directly on the truck. l

5. A system for loading, hauling and dumping material comprising, in combination, a truck, a relatively large container, a plurality of relatively small buckets adapted to be disposed at diierent locations over an area for collecting material therein, a single hoist means on the truck, said hoist means having lift means associated therewith and selectively connectible with said buckets for elevating and lowering them `and with said large container for elevating the -latter to a normal loadcarrying position resting directly on the truck or lowering the large container, said large container having a dump bar at the upper rear end thereof, and each of said buckets respectively having trip hook means thereon engageable with the dump bar on said large container when it is positioned on the truck in its normal loadcarrying position and upon the selective connection between the hoist means and the buckets for automatically effecting dumping of the contents of the buckets into said container upon the selective elevation of said buckets by the hoist means.

6. In a material loading, and dumping apparatus, the Y combination of a truck, a relatively large main bucket, hoist means comprising a pair of pivoted arms substantially rigidly interconnected with each other and mounted for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis disposed adjacent the rear end of said truck, lift means carried by said hoist means and comprising a plurality of chains certain of which are connectible with lugs on the sides of said main bucket for elevating the latter to a supported position resting directly on the truck, said main bucket having a substantially horizontal rod disposed =at the rear end thereof and connected with the sides of said main bucket at substantially the uppermost points thereof, a relatively smaller bucket having trip hook means mounted thereon and comprising first forwardly projecting hook means disposed at the bottom of the smaller bucket and second forwardly projecting hook means disposed at the top of the smaller bucket, others of said chains comprising said lift means being connectible with lugs on the sides of said smaller bucket for elevating the latter upon ascending movement of the hoist means and lowering the smaller bucket upon descent of the hoist means, whereby during elevation of the smaller bucket upon ascent of the hoist means the smaller bucket first strikes said horizontally extending bar and upon further ascent of the hoist means the first hook means automatically cooperates with the bar to tilt the smaller bucket and dump the contents thereof into the main bucket and upon lowering of the smaller bucket during descent of the hoist means the second hook means functions automatically in cooperation with said bar to return the smaller bucket to an upright position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNrrED STATES PATENTS 1,943,614 McCarron Jan. 16, 1934 2,170,932 Venema Aug. 29, 1939 2,313,514 Brooks Mar. 9, 1943- 2,456,434 Manthie Dec. 14, 1943 2,626,069 Jones Jan. 20, 1953 2,725,584- Dempster et al. Dec. 6, 1955 

